Ryokan Genbei

We came with our two dogs and were able to relax the whole time. I had read some harsh reviews and arrived prepared for problems, but my concerns turned out to be unnecessary. Maybe it was luck, but there was an empty room between the guests with dogs and those without. My dogs sometimes bark at unfamiliar places or people's voices, but they stayed calm and didn't bark once. The room was very clean and tidy, with no smell at all. My dogs pick up anything left on the floor, so I tend to notice stray rubbish, and there wasn't any. The food was tasty and seasoned just right, mostly seafood and vegetables, with a few New Year's dishes. There was plenty to eat, and the rice was especially good. I even went back for more at breakfast, which is unusual for me. I wonder if some of the negative food comments come from people expecting heavier meals. I used the bath three times and never ran into anyone, one of the nice things about a small inn. The open-air bath runs on a rotation and isn't very large, so I worried I wouldn't enjoy it based on what I'd read. In the end, I had quiet time to myself and was completely satisfied. It was the best. Dog-friendly inns are limited, so people may hold back from writing reviews that could put a burden on the inn. Reviews can be unreliable, and I've learned to check them carefully in advance. This stay was a pleasant surprise. I'll come again, and I appreciate your hospitality.

Our first trip to Togatta Onsen was with our two dogs. The inn was easy to find, convenient, and had a lovely exterior. Inside, the room was spotless and didn't smell of other dogs. Mine seemed comfortable there, which made it a good experience for them too. Remember to bring your own dog food and water bowls, since none are provided. We ate every bit of both dinner and breakfast. The portions suited us well and left us about 10% full. Dinner was in a private room, so we could have the dogs with us, which was great. It was easy to walk the dogs around town, and the trip was really pleasant. Thank you for taking such good care of us.

The building is impressive, a striking single-story property in a prime spot in the hot spring town. It's kept clean, and having everything on one floor is convenient. The origami displayed around the inn is lovely. The spring quality is excellent, and the indoor bath was carefully cleaned, which makes what I found outside all the more disappointing. I got into the open-air bath right after checking in, and a lot of green moss floated up. Do they scrub it? Leaves and caterpillars can happen, but this isn't a mountain hot spring, and I wouldn't call the amount of leaves and insects unavoidable. I visit hot springs often and know the difference between mineral deposits and spring ingredients. This looked like a lack of cleaning. The spring outlet and overflow point are right beside each other, so fresh water runs out continuously. The water was cooler away from the outlet, which raised a hygiene concern for me. There is also a slope beyond the wall of the open-air bath, and traffic noise carried quite clearly. It's a shame given how good the spring itself is. The food was an issue too. The rice and sashimi were delicious, but I was surprised to get three kinds of sausages and potatoes that didn't seem homemade, and quite a lot of them, placed in the center of the meal. I've only come across that at training camps or mountain huts. Dessert fruit was set out from the start, so by the time I ate it, it was lukewarm and dry. I have other thoughts about the food, but tastes differ, so I'll stick to what happened. I love visiting hot spring inns around Japan, and this was my second time in Togatta Onsen. Beforehand, I'd read reviews on different sites. The owner's replies to critical comments came across as retaliation and gave me a bad feeling, and I could relate to some of those complaints. The owner clearly has pride in the place, but I think there are several things that could be improved.

The dinner was great with sake, and the hot spring was pleasantly hot. Since the building is all on one floor, there’s no elevator and it's easy to get to the bath. I’ll definitely come back.